Youth team to feature in international tournament

CITY'S young stars will head out to the United States on Friday morning to record another major milestone for the club's world-renowned Academy in the wake of April's deserved FA Youth Cup triumph.

The Boy Blues have been invited to the prestigious Dallas Tournament in Texas on the strength of that Youth Cup victory over Chelsea and will kick off on Sunday against the cream of the Italian crop from AC Milan.

Jim Cassell's youngsters, who have never before played in what has become one of the world's top youth tournaments, will follow that Group A appetiser with games against Toronto and the leading Mexican club Tigres.

The potential opposition in the semi-finals is no less daunting. Group B is headed by Brazilian holders Sao Paulo and also incudes Eintracht Frankfurt, while Group C boasts River Plate of Argentina and Vancouver Whitecaps.

Academy manager Cassell said: "It's an honour for us to be invited to such a prestigious tournament. The age group is Under-19 but we'll take a younger squad to give them experience. It will help to educate the younger ones about playing against foreign opposition."

>>mcfc.co.uk